PLoS ONE (Jan 2021)

The impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity of Czech children.

  • Tereza Štveráková,
  • Jakub Jačisko,
  • Andrew Busch,
  • Marcela Šafářová,
  • Pavel Kolář,
  • Alena Kobesová

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254244
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 7
p. e0254244

Abstract

Read online

IntroductionThe pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and related restrictions (closed schools and sports centers, social isolation, masks) may have a negative impact on children's health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of physical activity (PA) of Czech children during COVID-19 in autumn 2020.MethodsNinety-eight Czech children (mean age = 10.1 ± 1.47 years) completed the standardized Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Czech Children (PAQ-C/cz) during COVID lockdown. Data were compared with previously published norms. Thirty-five children also reported daily number of steps measured by accelerometers.ResultsTotal PAQ-C score was 0.38 lower during COVID compared to Pre-COVID [t(302) = 5.118., p ConclusionCOVID lockdown resulted in significant reduction of PA in Czech children. Strategies to promote adequate PA of children during the pandemic need to be determined.